Christmas 2011

I don't know what was going on this past Christmas, but it felt very unmerry. It was almost a relief to take down the tree. We think that is was just stressful trying to deal with doing our family traditions or even being able to leave the house for me and the kids without risking Breckin getting sick. It made it hard to relax and just enjoy it. Shad had also been working long hours to take care of all the people who wanted vehicles in time for Christmas. We didn't get to spend much time at all together as a family. Brinley also wasn't sleeping very well either, that's right Brinley, not Breckin (more to come).

Christmas Eve ended up being pretty fun. Shad had to work most of the day and I had a little breakdown trying to get Brinley to take a nap. She hadn't sleep the night before (and many nights before that) and now she was refusing to take a nap. I had tried for four hours and finally called Shad and had him come home before I really lost it. Shad and I usually do our shopping for each other on Christmas Eve, but this year we couldn't take Breckin out. Shad sent me to go shopping for myself while he tried to get Brinley to sleep, which he did (ahhh). There are sometimes I really enjoy shopping and other times it's a bust. There were so many people out shopping I ended up doing grocery shopping and not really much shopping for myself. That night after we put the wee ones to bed Shad and I shopped online for each other in our bed, in our pjs...it was pretty funny, we still laugh about it. Earlier that night we made our usual gingerbread house. I found these cute mini ones that were a lot easier for Brin to decorate. She did most of the decorating herself. Breckin did his part by eating the broken gingerbread pieces, he loved it! After we had fun with the gingerbread we drove down to Spanish Fork to see the lights. It was Breckin's first time and he loved them and so did Brinley.

Brinley was so patient and sweet Christmas morning. Between me being at church that morning and Breckin taking a nap we didn't open presents until noon. She loved the microphone that Santa brought and she especially loved the princess dress the uncle Lafe gave her. She wears it almost everyday! Breckin didn't know what to think about it all. His toys and gifts kept being taken away from him by his jealous sister :) It was a good day. We were able to go and have dinner up in Heber with our adopted family and spend some time with them. We really enjoyed not feeling so trapped and lonely. We are especially grateful for the gift of our Savior and for our Heavenly Father for sending him down to save us. It is hard to really comprehend that it all really happened and the effect it can have on our lives today. This new year we hope to be more like him and love more like he does.